WIT’s Vision : … a world where Change-Making Communities™ continue to emerge globally.

What does that look like? – When faced with a challenge, communities demonstrate resilience through strength, flexibility, and inspire change across other communities through a ripple effect.

In order to create that change, stakeholders from various sectors bring forth their unique values and contribute towards the shared goal. The influencer and the beneficiary are often not moving in the same direction.

The name WIT (World in Tohoku), therefore was borne upon this belief/vision. Generally, one may assume that “Tohoku in the World” is a more fitting description/expression, but “World in Tohoku” is intentional.

In order to build Change-Making Communities™, individuals must either stimulate the potential that lives within, or gather potentials from the external forces/influence. This allows the Tohoku region to be a part of the world’s quest for its potential, while simultaneously bringing the global asset to Tohoku the region and join forces.

World in Tohoku was established immediately following the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, when professionals in the field of social innovation gathered to share their experiences and acted upon their shared commitment towards creating change-making communities and scaling impact.

Despite the risk of diving into a practice/field that is unheard of /underdeveloped in Japan, the sense of urgency to lend a hand to the victims of the earthquake in a resourceful and effective way remained at the core of this work. WIT’s work has developed over time with the belief that the positive change happening in Tohoku can also be replicated and/or scaled in other disaster-stricken regions in the world.

That is

• Natural disasters can happen anywhere in the world. In situations such as 3/11, where a natural disaster struck a region like Tohoku, where social entrepreneurship, let alone a fully functioning ecosystem of players, could not keep up with the pace of rebuilding. Even if social entrepreneurs themselves are able to rebuild their business, the other players within the ecosystem do not have the capacity to develop effectively and efficiently in a timely manner to support the social entrepreneurs.

• The societal issues around Tohoku post-disaster is currently gaining a lot of attention from both within Japan and across the world; yet the ability to build capacity of social entrepreneurs who are seeking to have an impact on their region and beyond, is lacking, This is yet another layer of change that is required at the systems level, all encompassed with the other issues such as nuclear meltdown and concerns of radiation, decreasing birthrate and aging population, the industrial structure between rural and urban regions of Japan, etc.

Tohoku is not a means to an end, but rather a unique place and opportunity to return its appreciation to the world and showcase the impact that disaster-stricken areas can have to other regions around the world.

2015/3/20 Washington DC
Strengthening Civil Society Ties after 3/11 – Lessons from the US-Japan Experience
Organized by the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE)
Hosted at the Institute of International Education (IIE)

2015/2/28 Princeton University, NJ
Social Innovation in the Revival of 3.11
Co-hosted by Princeton Japanese Association and Japanese Student Association of Princeton University (共催：プリンストン日本人会、プリンストン大学日本学生会)

2015/1/23 Rikkyo University/立教大学, Tokyo
Change the World from Tohoku – Empowering Social Entrepreneurs for the Future

2014/12/7 MIT, MA
東北から世界を変える社会起業家を育てる
Boston Japanese International Development Community
ボストン日本人開発コミュニティ

2014/11/17 NY
Learning about Education/Learning in NY
「教育／学び」の仲間 in NY